Full title: Cue reactivity and its relation to craving and relapse in alcohol dependence: a combined laboratory and field study

by Jurriaan Witteman, Hans Post, Mika Tarvainen, Avalon de Bruijn, Elizabeth De Sousa Fernandes Perna, Johannes G. Ramaekers, Reinout W. Wiers

The present study investigated the nature of physiological cue reactivity and craving in response to alcohol cues among alcohol-dependent patients (N = 80) who were enrolled in detoxification treatment and concludes hat the presence of alcohol cues such as portrayal of alcoholic beverages and drinking behaviour induces cue reactivity and craving in alcohol dependence through a conditioned appetitive response.

Authors: Rehm J, Marmet S, Anderson P, Gual A, Kraus L, Nutt DJ, Room R, Samokhvalov AV, Scafato E, Trapencieris M, Wiers RW, Gmel G.

The authors propose that 'Heavy substance use over time' seems to be a definition of substance use disorders in line with results of basic research and epidemiology, which additionally reduces stigmatization and could clarify and unify discussions in the area. 

Published in Alcohol and Alcoholism in November 2013.

Paper by Irmgard Eisenbach Stangl published in Substance Use & Misuse in August 2013.

Paper by David Nutt and Jürgen Rehm published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology in January 2014

Paper by Esben Houboug and Vibeke Asmussen Frank published online in the International Journal of Drug Policy in January 2014.